Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, ethnicity and marriage.

The population passed 280,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Newcastle upon Tyne increased by 8.0%, from just under 260,000 to 280,000.

The addition of almost 21,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the North East and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North East's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Newcastle upon Tyne

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Newcastle upon Tyne decreased by three years, from 36 to 33 years.

This city had the lowest average age in the North East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 16,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 21% of people in Newcastle upon Tyne are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Newcastle upon Tyne by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

This area saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.6% to 2.8%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newcastle upon Tyne said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 10% to 7.6%.

The largest increase occurred in Newham (from 2.3% to 5.9%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newcastle upon Tyne increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

This area saw the North East's largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Across the region, Gateshead saw the next largest increase in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good (from 63% in 2001 to 76% in 2011).

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 64% to 77%.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) in Newcastle upon Tyne said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 6.8%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Disablity in Newcastle upon Tyne

This area saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Across the region, Middlesbrough saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 6.3% in 2001 to 5.4% in 2011).

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.4%) in Newcastle upon Tyne reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.3% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 3.8% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Newcastle upon Tyne

The number of people in Newcastle upon Tyne from the White ethnic groups remained close to 240,000 between the last two seasons. This represents a change from 93% to 85% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North East (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Newcastle upon Tyne from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 13,000 in 2001 to about 27,000 in 2011 (from 5.1% to 9.7%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 960 to about 5,200 (from 0.4% to 1.8%).

About 4,300 people (0.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 2,300 in 2001 (1.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Newcastle upon Tyne decreased by 7.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Newcastle upon Tyne by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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